MAURITIUS. By the mail we have Mauritius papers to December 6. The Overland Commerdal Gazette ? oi that date says :— Whilst a brighter horizon ?seems to be dawning upon us as regards our agricultural and commercial position, it ir with regret that we announce the continued existence !of the fever amongst us. There has been no new outbreak, :nor do we believe there will be ; but there is an increase of cases as. compared with last month, and the mortality, especially from fever, is higher. The deaths during the month of Norember numbered 302, and 61 (from the 1st to the 4th of December. '; . COMMERCIAL. . : Sugars.— The market for all descriptions has ?been active during the past fortnight, and since ?the arrival of the steamer from Galle, which brought telegrams from London up to the 18th 'November, &amp; .decided improvement in prices of ?grey sorts has taken place. For Australia and ;Bombay the demand has been sustained, but 'the only alteration in quotations of qualities 'sui...

MEETlinJ AT GILBEBTON. . A-meetdng was held on Thursday, at For rester's . Inn, to take into consideration the best means, of 'procuring wheat for seed for * the.: coming season. It had rained all day long, and sometimesyeiy heavily, so that we may sup pose it was from that' cause the meeting was so' poorly attended. Those present at about half - pastS agreed to hold the meeting, which was accordingly done, Sir. M. Minihan occupying the chair.-- '?''.'- ? '-?.-? TheCHAlRKANsMd be need not tell these, present the cause of their being called together : — nnfortun&amp;tely it was too -well known. But he thought as the meeting was so small they could ; not do better than pass the 'same resolutions that were passed at Freeling meeting, and no doubt .Borne of those; present would state the nature -of their tesses, nnd give «ome other in formation. (Hear, hear.) He would make it his business to go round and get signatures to the memorial to the Executive, so as to forward their cause a...

THE FARMING IMSiffilST/ ? r}[ MEETING AT CREELING. A meeting was held at the Railway Hotel, Creeling, pursuant to advertisement, to take into consideration the best steps to . secure .the fanners on their land for the next twelve . mont-fats. .-;-..- . '-? . . .!'?'???'???? ?'??:.- '-- ?? Mr. H. F. A. Kbtjgbh was unaniHionsly voted to the chair, and read the advertisement to tke meeting, which was a vezy large one, the room feeing quite well, and a great number of our ?Grerman fellow colonists being present He was . sglad to see so many tbers, tout at the same time i . vety aorry for the cause that had called them together. , They 3iad met to adopt the best means to en-Ale them to stop on their land. He honed aUBpeakeii would speak calmly and to the subject H-dr^bich they had niet.. He had re ceived several letters, and' would read them. One was from'SIr. J. W. Peterswald, stating it was not in the province of the Commission at present sitting to attend that meeting. Also from the S...

£OUOT±tY NEWS. . t ? ? ? . ?. {From our Country Correspondents.] BLANOHETOWk , jAKiTfRT 14. An accident of a serious nature occurred on Friday last, to a man ' who was duck-Bhooting near Swan JteEMsh. IVom some unaccountable cause the barrel of his gun burst, blowing off thetwo middle fingers of the left hand, and. severely bruising and lacerating the thumb. The poor f ellp w was brought to the township on Saturday, where, in the absence of any immediate -'medical aid, every attention was paid: him. by our hotel proprietor and other ? inhabitants of . the place. At the first opportunity, I believe, he will be forwarded to the Hospital. — It is with regret that ^1 learn that our Commissioner of Public Works declines taking any ''action in reference to a punt at tills place and the Overland Corner. Then«pessityof these improvements has been so prominently brought forward that it is superfluous to further dwell, on them. It is to be hoped, however, that further considera tion will indu...

CHINA AND JAPAN. Japan. — A general disbandment of troops has been ordered, satisfactoiy terms with Chosen having been concluded. Arrangements for opening of Oseeka progress ing satisfactorily. A large British fleet is assembling at Naga saki aB a matter of precaution. The opening of Yeddo is considered very my thical at present. . China. — The Formosan Semi-Bavages who murdered the crew of the American vessel Rover have been brought to terms. Advices froaHbhe North state that Imperial troops have sustained a severe repulse from the NienfeL who took six camps and captured a battery made at the Nanking Arsenal. The Yellow River, lias burst its banks and great damage done in. Shantung. Treaty between King o~£ Italy and Emperor of China formally ratified. Great disorder still exists in the North. Details of farther defeats of the Imperialists by the Nienfei rebels are. to hand. ? Li Henug Chang (Imperial Generalissimo' has at last resolved to invite the aid of foreigners in the suppres...

INDIA. Bombay, November 29. — A portion of the Delhi and Punjaub Eailway, extending from Umritsur to the west bank of the Bee's fiiver, was opened for traffic on the 1st instant. It is proposed to wind up the Bombay and Bengal Steamship Company. The Governor-General has intimated that no proposal to: establish a branch or agency at Bombay of the Bank of Bengal, for the trans action of ceneral banMne business; would receive his sanction. A subscription is being received in Calcutta on behalf of the sufferers from the late cyclone. Sir George Yule is about to leave India in consequence of illness, and Sir William Muir/ it is said, will be bis successor in the Supreme Council. Sir Richard Temple it is expected, will be offered the Foreign office, and in the event of. his declining ; it is thought Mr. Davies will succeed Sir William Muii* in that office next March. ? ? ? A body of Egyptian poldiers numbering 4,000 men had reached Massowah under the command of a GreneAJ, with what object...

VICTORIA. FFrom our Melbourne CorresDondent.l January 8, 1868. Oar Boyal visitor has departed after a six weeks' stay in 'Victoria, during which time we have done our best to entertain him right royally. To a great extent we succeeded in giving him more than satisfaction, but there is no doubt that we also bored him somewhat with excessive attention. This mistaken kindness is chargeable upon all classes, not excepting the highest personages in the colony. Up to the time of his departure, Sis Boyal Highness con tinued to speak in terms quite affectionate of ' that fine old gentleman,' Sir Dominick Daly. If any decorations come out from England by and bye, and exceptions are made, you maybe1 perfectly satisfied that they will fiaitheir way to Adelaide :r&amp;taer^3iaa3eBJOUTne. During the last week or two of the Prince's stay, he was much more at the Melbourne Club than at Toorak, and made no secret of his preference, not from want of politeness at the latter place, but. from the ...

WILLTTNGA, January 13. The foundation-stone of the chancel of the Catholic Church of St. Joseph, Willunga, was laidjOn Sunday, 12th iast., the ceremony being performed, as prescribed in the ritual of the Church, by the Very Rev. J. Smyth, Vicar General; assisted by the Rev. T. H. Bongaerts, the resident pastor. There was a large attend ance, and the very rev. gentleman preached a most eloquent and impressive discourse appro priate for ihe occasion. A subscription was made after the sermon, which amounted to a good round sum. ' In the evening the Very Rev. gentleman again preached to almost as. large a congregation as in the morning, taking his text from the Gospel of the day. The discourse was exceedingly neat in style, and a beautiful .expo sition of the subject I may mention that the additions to the church, viz., chancel . and restry, are being built nearly at the sole coBt of Mr. Richard Logan, to whom the Catholics of Willunga are greatly indebted for this munifi cent work. # ?...

WOODSIDE, ^ANT/A-BT 16. The weather has been, exceedingly change able of late, harvest operations being greatly 'impeded thereby. The yield' of hay has %een below the average this year. Pease have varied; very much, from two bushels to 25 bushels per acre. The wheat also varies both as to quality and quantity,- placing the yield-f or this district it is to be feared,- below eight bushels p-r acre. The state of the harvest this year in con nection with the previous four years of failure in this district, casts a gloom of an indescribable character over the minds of both farmers and neighboring tradesmen.' What is to be done ? is a question that but few, if any, can rightly answer. The way of re covery is less discernible than ruin looming in the distance. The tenants of the South Aus tralian Company held a large meeting at Wood side Inn, Woodside, last Monday evening,: the 13th instant, when: they agreed to memorialise the Company: for the remission 01 reat for the year now closing. ...

TALISKER, Janttaby 15. The Talisker branch of the South Australian Total Abstinence Society held a public meeting in the TaliBker Schoolroom on Monday evening last to advocate the principles of total absti nence. Mr. John Collins presided. After prayer had been- offered, the' Chairman made a .ew appropriate remarks, and 'then called on Dr. Braddock, who addressed the . meeting at great length, adducing several arguments in favor of total abstinence. He also brougnt forward the .testimony of eminent physicians to prove that alcohol, the intoxicating element of all intoxicating liquors, is not 'food, but a narcotic poison ; a stimulant, but not a nourishment ; detrimental to health and longevity,' and a generator 'of disease. ' The meeting was also addressed by Messrs. R. J. Shepherd and Jas. McArthur. 'Several temperance melodies were sung during the evening, .in which all present: heartily joined. A collection was made in aid 'the ' Talisker Band of ^Hope funds, and at the close of ...

VIRGINIA. January It. A. .meeting of .gentlemen interested in the Virginia annual races was held at the Wheat sheaf Inn on Wednesday evening, January 15. Mr. R. Gilks was voted to the chair. There were some twenty sporting gentlemen present. The Chairman remarked that Virginia; had characterised itself by having one or two days' annual racing, and although the times were somewhat dull sA, present, he did not see why Virginia should not still have its annual : races carriei out as it had hitherto. Mr. F. Saint had much pleasure in seeing so many present, and he thought, judging trom the appearance of the meeting, that they were; to have a good day's annual racing. He thought from the support which they had last year from the many sporting gentlemen in the sur rounding districts, that. .he. had no reason to. doubt that the Virginia Races would be amply supported this year, and seeing the very efficient manner in which the Secretarf, Mr. J. Nash, had fulfilled his duties in that capa-'...